Scottish Executive

Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has obtained any report by the Standing Veterinary Committee on amnesic shellfish poisoning and, if so, when it will publish a response; whether it has any plans to introduce a replacement method of tiered testing of scallops and, if so, when any necessary subordinate legislation will be brought forward.

Malcolm Chisholm: Responsibility for this issue rests with the Food Standards Agency who have advised me that this matter was discussed by EU scientific experts on 3-4 April. The formal report of the meeting is expected shortly, though it is expected to be generally supportive of the principle of the tiered approach. The agency will consider the scientific report, along with the requirements for an enforcement regime to maintain consumer safety, before making final recommendations. If changes to subordinate legislation are required, these will be brought forward at the earliest opportunity.

Asylum Seekers

Mike Watson (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to tackle the level of racial abuse and number of assaults experienced by refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow, in particular where the abuse or attack is perpetrated by children and young people.

Iain Gray: Policing issues related to asylum seekers in Glasgow are operational matters for the Chief Constable. Strathclyde has a force policing strategy which requires divisions receiving asylum seekers to appoint asylum liaison officers to develop links with asylum seekers and monitor racial incidents. Among the measures introduced are additional police patrols in areas of particular concern; Community Safety and Community Officers working closely with schools to help address tensions between local children and asylum seekers, and joint initiatives involving the police, the local authority and the voluntary sector.

Cancer

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS Trusts currently provide continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy and whether this treatment will be made more widely available.

Susan Deacon: Continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (CHART) is not currently available in any of Scotland’s five cancer centres.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has been asked to advise on the clinical and cost effectiveness of CHART for patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. Their report should be available during 2002.

  The Scottish Cancer Plan will be published in the near future.

Census

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made to ensure that the 2001 Census goes ahead in areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is essential that rural residents are fully counted in the Census alongside those from urban areas because very substantial resources are allocated on the basis of Census statistics. The Registrar General for Scotland has made arrangements for postal delivery of Census forms to households, where normal delivery by enumerators is not possible because the area is infected or where access is limited.

  In infected areas enumerators are instructed not to hand deliver forms to any livestock holding premises or to any rural premises where the approach would involve driving off a metalled road.

  In all areas enumerators are instructed to observe scrupulously any signs restricting access and will comply at all times with any local disinfecting arrangements in place at the time.

  The arrangements made by the Registrar General, in consultation with the Government Veterinary Service, have the support of the National Farmers Union of Scotland, the Scottish Landowners Federation and the Scottish Crofters Union. A copy of the News Release issued by the Registrar General on 20 March is held on the Scottish Executive website pages covering foot-and-mouth disease:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/agri/footandmouth/news.asp

Central Heating

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any delay in the central heating initiative due to start on 1 April 2001.

Jackie Baillie: No. Local authorities have already begun the process of installing central heating systems under the Executive-funded £350 million programme. Scottish Homes is making arrangements for the delivery of the programme in qualifying housing association properties. The Executive is also in the process of appointing an agent to manage the delivery of the central heating programme to owner occupiers.

Community Care

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £10 million announced on 22 February 2001 for community care will be spent on (a) hearing aids, (b) audiologists and (c) hearing therapists.

Malcolm Chisholm: That is a matter for individual health boards in light of local circumstances and priorities. Boards are required to submit to the Scottish Executive by 30 April proposals for spending the £10 million which have been agreed with local authority partners. However, I do not intend to require them to provide the level of detail you are currently seeking.

Culture

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many invitations to meet representatives of Scottish Ballet the Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture has (a) received and (b) accepted since his appointment.

Allan Wilson: I have received two invitations to performances, one of which I have accepted.

Drug Misuse

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what new plans it has to combat drug dealers following the anti-drugs march on 1 April 2001.

Iain Gray: The Executive’s drugs strategy includes the creation of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency in June 2000, which has seized over £17 million worth of drugs and made over 116 arrests to date. The Executive is also supporting the proposed UK Proceeds of Crime Bill, which will increase powers to seize the assets of drug dealers and others.

Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent in real terms on education, including schools, universities and colleges in 1992 and 1997 and is projected to be spent in 2002.

Angus MacKay: Spending on education, at 2001-02 prices, was, and is projected to be, as follows:

  


£ million 
  



1992-93 
  

1997-98 
  

2002-03 
  



3,610 
  

3,956 
  

4,925

Education

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have dropped out of (a) further and (b) higher education in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Data for all students undertaking further and higher education at higher education institutions and who leave before completion in each year for which information is available is provided in the table:

  Students in Higher Education Institutions in Scotland 1994-95 to 1999-2000

  Leaving course and level

  


Left before completion 
  

1994-95 
  

1995-96 
  

1996-97 
  

1997-98 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  



Higher education 
  

3,809
(2.6%) 
  

5,844
(3.8%) 
  

7,160
(4.2%) 
  

7,808
(4.4%) 
  

8,048
(4.4%) 
  

7,533
(4.0%) 
  



Further Education 
  

17
(5.9%) 
  

60
(24.6%) 
  

30
(7.2%) 
  

29
(7.9%) 
  

10
(3.0%) 
  

18
(18.3%) 
  



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Performance Indicators published annually by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council for higher education institutions in Scotland provide a projection of the numbers who start a full-time first degree course and do not obtain an award or transfer to another institution. For those starting in 1996-97 this was 17%, while in 1997-98 this was 16%.

  Data is not available for those undertaking further or higher education at further education colleges.

Electronics Industry

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive’s economic development policies are being adapted to take account of the economic downturn within the electronics sector.

Henry McLeish: We know that the electronics industry globally is undergoing massive change, and we are determined to move Scottish manufacturing up the value chain to focus more on research, design and development activities. We are therefore accelerating our move into these areas, linked to our universities and support for indigenous high technology growth companies, as a route to secure jobs in the future.

Electronics Industry

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will build on the skills of the Scottish electronics industry workforce to ensure that the industry is able to compete globally for higher value, higher skilled work.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The electronics industry is presently undergoing worldwide restructuring and it is crucial that the industry in Scotland acquires the skills to compete for high value work. Scottish Enterprise is currently conducting an audit of existing skills in the sector aimed at developing a strategy to meet the future requirements of the hi-tech industry.

  The new Future Skills Scotland unit will also have a key role in identifying current and future skills needs, and the labour market information and intelligence required to ensure relevant education and training provision to meet these needs.

Enterprise

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it proposes to modify the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan to allow Dawsholm Park in Glasgow to be used for industrial development.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish ministers have proposed a modification to the Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Structure Plan in order to make provision for new employment opportunities through the expansion of the West of Scotland Science Park. As the proposed modification relates to a strategic provision, it is not site specific and it would be wrong to assume that it represents a threat to the amenity woodland at Dawsholm Park. Any consequential land allocations would be a matter for the Glasgow City plan which is currently approaching consultative draft stage.

  The proposed modification has been the subject of a substantial number of representations which are being carefully considered prior to a final decision on the submitted structure plan.

Environment

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have put in place a strategy to deal with contaminated land, including landfill sites.

Ross Finnie: None. Under the terms of the new statutory contaminated land regime, which came into force on 14 July 2000, local authorities have until October 2001 to produce and publish strategies for inspecting their areas to identify contaminated land.

European Union

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it is making to the reform of European Union institutions.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive is contributing through its input to the formulation of the UK position on this issue and also by direct submissions of its own, along with participation in initiatives with other regional governments with legislative powers.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8717 by Mr Jack McConnell on 11 September 2000, whether it will list the applications made to draw funding from the UK reserve in each year from 1970 to date.

Angus MacKay: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-8717 which sets out information for 1999-2000. Reserve access for 2000-01 is set out in SE 2000/194 Scotland’s Budget Documents 2000-01, Scotland’s Autumn Budget Revisions and SE 2001/4 Scotland’s Budget Documents 2000-01, Scotland’s Spring Budget Revisions which list the resources received from the UK reserve. Information on past reserve claims is not held centrally.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total estimated cost to the Scottish budget is of the changeover to resource account budgeting.

Angus MacKay: The cost of the change was met from within existing administration budgets.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy Minister for Rural Development or any other minister instructed civil servants to solicit correspondence from fishing industry organisations in relation to the recently announced package of assistance for the industry and, if so, whether it will give details of which civil servants were instructed, the instructions issued and the subsequent results, and its reasons for its actions in this matter.

Rhona Brankin: Officials routinely maintain contact with a wide range of bodies in the subject areas for which they are responsible to ministers and will continue to do so.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a statutory instrument is required to allow payments to be made under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) and, if so, when such an instrument will be laid before the Scottish Parliament.

Rhona Brankin: A Scottish order is required to provide for the implementation of our FIFG plans.

  The Fisheries and Aquaculture Structures (Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001 No 140) was laid before the Parliament on 5 April 2001. An entry to this effect can be found in Business Bulletin 61/2001.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the first round of the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance has closed for applications; if so, when, and how many applications were received by this date, broken down by sector, and what progress is being made to ensure that payments are made to applicants when originally programmed.

Rhona Brankin: In the Highlands and Islands, the schemes for all measures except processing and marketing closed for the first round of applications on 28 February. The deadline for processing and marketing applications was extended to 20 April.

  The number of applications submitted under each of the Highlands and Islands schemes is:

  Processing and marketing 7 (as at 12 April)

  Vessel modernisations 11

  Aquaculture 17

  Port facilities 3

  Operations by members of the trade 4

  Innovative measures 5

  For the non-Highlands and Islands area of Scotland, the closing date for applications under each of the schemes is 20 April. As at 12 April, nine applications had been received, in addition to those identified above: eight for support under processing and marketing and one under the port facilities scheme. The department has also received a bid for support (not included above) which covers activities across both the Highlands and Islands area and the rest of Scotland.

  Consideration and appraisal of applications received is under way and awards will be announced as soon as possible. Payment of grants to successful applicants can only be made after claims have been received and appropriate financial etc diligence has been undertaken.

Food

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the food consumed in Scotland in each of the last 50 years was (a) produced in Scotland and (b) imported.

Ross Finnie: This information is not available.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what further measures it will introduce to assist the restructuring and recovery of businesses related to both agriculture and tourism in rural areas which have been severely disadvantaged by the impact of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: We have already introduced a range of measures to offer both immediate hardship relief and assist business recovery. In addition, the Executive has already begun the task of identifying strategies to help all sectors affected, including the farming and tourism industries, recover from the effects of this disease. The Executive has also established a steering group of local farmers in Dumfries and Galloway to advise on recovery issues. This work is being overseen and co-ordinated by a sub-group of the Ministerial Committee on Rural Development, which I chair.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the Economic Recovery Plan submitted to the First Minister by Dumfries and Galloway Council and partner organisations on 18 April 2001.

Ross Finnie: The Executive is giving urgent consideration to the Dumfries and Galloway Economic Recovery Plan which was presented to the First Minister on 18 April. The Executive will wish to ensure that the action taken in Dumfries and Galloway is consistent with the wider plans for the recovery of the Scottish economy from the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences for the movement of farm animals have been granted by each local authority since the instigation of the licence procedures as a result of foot-and-mouth disease, broken down by (a) species and (b) destination of consignment.

Ross Finnie: There is no centrally held record of the number of licences granted by local authorities, authorising the movement of cattle, sheep and pigs to slaughter. However, comparison of the latest slaughtering statistics covering the period commencing Sunday 18 February are in the following table. While numbers overall are down due to the drastic drop in slaughtering in the second week of the period when livestock movements were banned, the processing sector has been catching up on throughput since then.

  Slaughter throughput since beginning of foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in February 2001 compared to February/March 2000

  


Animal 
  

2001
(w/e 24 February - 24 March) 
  

2000
(w/e 24 February - 24 March) 
  



Cattle 
  

40,669 
  

49,372 
  



Sheep 
  

126,458 
  

156,054 
  



Pigs 
  

66,156 
  

73,165

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the criteria to be used by local authorities in applying their discretion to the award of rates relief to businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Angus MacKay: Guidance on the rate relief available for businesses affected by foot-and-mouth disease has been issued to local authorities. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. no. 12527).

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether hotels whose rateable values exceed £12,500 are entitled to receive rates relief in respect of hardship as a consequence of the impact of foot-and-mouth disease and whether it will provide urgent direction to local authorities as to whether such hotels should or should not receive any relief.

Angus MacKay: Any business occupying a property with a rateable value above £12,000 in Scotland may apply for relief from rates providing it can be demonstrated that the business is suffering hardship. Local authorities are already aware that this relief is available but a reminder has been included in the guidance issued on 10 April. It is for the local authority to consider each case on its merits.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the division of Scotland into three zones for the purpose of controlling foot-and-mouth disease will affect the prices paid by slaughterhouses for livestock from each zone and, if so, whether it will take any steps to prevent any potential variation in prices between zones.

Ross Finnie: It is too early to say how the zoning might affect livestock prices. The matter will be kept under review.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the source of infection has been in relation to each livestock unit where there has been a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: The spread of foot-and-mouth disease between livestock units appears mainly to have been by direct animal to animal contact or through people who have been in contact with animals acting as a conduit. Foot-and-mouth disease has been a particular problem in sheep, which have acted as a reservoir for the disease.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to determine the local authorities which will be included in the rates relief scheme to assist businesses during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Angus MacKay: All local authorities will be entitled to be reimbursed by the Scottish Executive to the extent of 75% of the cost of granting relief to businesses suffering hardship as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

  We will meet 95% of the cost of funding such hardship relief for a period of three months for small businesses in 17 rural local authority areas which have a population density of less than two persons per hectare.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it has made as to whether any European Union funding is available to alleviate any aspect of the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Ross Finnie: We have had constructive discussions with the European Commission on a wide range of issues. Examples of the positive results achieved thus far include:

  (a) the Commission has agreed to consider an EU contribution towards the costs of compensation to livestock producers who have had stock culled;

  (b) payment of around £46 million in EU livestock subsidies at the earliest date permissible under EU legislation. Payments under the new Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, which also receives EU funding, bring the total of subsidies paid to Scottish producers in the last month to around £100 million;

  (c) Commission agreement to EU funding towards the costs of agri-monetary compensation, which will be worth around £24 million in total to Scottish producers.

  Other EU funding, such as the Structural Funds and the resources allocated to the Scottish Rural Development Plan, will also bring significant benefits to rural areas affected by the outbreak. However, we have already confirmed with the Commission that these resources could not be redeployed to compensate individuals or businesses for economic losses caused by the foot-and-mouth disease emergency.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of licensed hotel premises have a rateable value of more than £12,500 in local authority areas with businesses which qualify for the enhanced foot-and-mouth disease related contribution for rates relief of 95%.

Angus MacKay: Information on the number of hotels, boarding houses etc. with rateable values of £12,000 or less was given in the answer to question S1W-14858. Data on licensed hotel premises are not held separately.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any contact has been made with the European Commission to ascertain the potential for a partial lifting of the export ban currently imposed due to foot-and-mouth disease and, if so, when that contact was made and whether any further contact is planned.

Ross Finnie: Steps are in hand to explore the position with the European Commission. My immediate priority is to control and eradicate the disease in the south of Scotland.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on foot-and-mouth disease on 5 April 2001, whether it will detail those restrictions that are to remain in place and those restrictions that are to be lifted within the Provisionally Free Area.

Ross Finnie: In view of the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease south of Jedburgh and in Wigtownshire, I announced on 11 April that the proposed relaxation of restrictions in the Provisionally Free Areas (PFAs) of Scotland would be put on hold until 1 May. The conditions which will apply to any relaxation in movement controls in the PFAs will be set out clearly at the time.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of businesses in Dumfries and Galloway have a rateable value below £12,000 and whether all such businesses will qualify for 95% reduction of rates under the rates relief package announced on 28 March 2001.

Angus MacKay: As at 1 April 2000 around 86% of businesses in Dumfries and Galloway had a rateable value of £12,000 or less.

  All businesses are eligible to apply for rates relief of up 100% if they can demonstrate that they are suffering hardship as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The Scottish Executive contribution to the cost of such relief will be 95% for businesses with a rateable value of £12,000 or less, and 75% for other businesses, the council making up the remainder of the cost.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the group set up to examine the wider impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak intends to examine the effect of the outbreak on the dairy industry in the south west of Scotland.

Ross Finnie: The Impact Assessment Group has been established to assess the impact of foot-and-mouth disease across all sectors and areas. As such, the group will pick up on the wider effects the outbreak is having on a wide range of sectors including dairying. Regionally specific analysis from the Dumfries and Galloway local Impact Assessment Group is feeding into the national assessment.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether businesses in Dumfries and Galloway with a rateable value greater than £12,000 are entitled to any form of rates reduction if they have been adversely affected by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and, if so, what criteria are used to determine whether the outbreak has been responsible for a decline in business.

Angus MacKay: All businesses in Scotland are eligible to apply to their local authorities for rates relief if they suffer hardship as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Authorities are expected to fund 25% of the cost of the relief, as usual, for businesses with a rateable value of over £12,000.

  Authorities are also able to offer support to affected businesses in a range of other ways, for example by deferring payments or granting relief for property that is not in use as a result of the outbreak.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the first animals were slaughtered under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme.

Ross Finnie: The Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme is operated on behalf of the Agriculture Departments by the Intervention Board Executive Agency. Slaughter under the scheme began at Brechin abattoir on 6 April and at Arran abattoir on 10 April.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to clear the backlog of animals waiting to be culled under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme.

Ross Finnie: I am aware that producers who have entered stock into the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme have experienced delays in their applications being processed and, consequently, their stock have not been slaughtered as quickly as they hoped. Having overcome initial problems with this new scheme, stock are now being processed in approved abattoirs in Scotland. The Intervention Board advise me that animals are being dealt with in order of welfare priority.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations have been made into the means by which the foot-and-mouth disease virus has been transmitted during the current outbreak and whether geese have acted as vectors of transmission or whether this possibility can be ruled out.

Ross Finnie: Based on initial analysis and epidemiological information, it is estimated that around 90% of the cases of infection are attributable to local spread between premises caused by animal and people movements. Half the remainder are thought to have arisen because of vehicle movements. The sources of the rest are still being investigated. Geese are not considered to have been the source of disease spread.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish guidance on the public health aspects of disposal of carcases of animals slaughtered as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic.

Susan Deacon: Guidance on Measures to Minimise Risk to Public Health from the Slaughter and Disposal of Animals was issued on 25 April.

  Copies of the guidance are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Fuel Prices

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take following the publication of the 4th Report, 2001 of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee Report on the Inquiry into Fuel Prices in Remoter Rural Areas and, in particular, whether it has arranged to meet the Petrol Retailers Association and the Scottish Motor Trade Association to discuss how to address the lower turnover or throughput of small petrol stations.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive welcomes the committee’s constructive and balanced contribution to what is a very important issue for rural Scotland.

  As the report notes, the Executive already offers rates and capital support for eligible rural petrol stations. The Executive is nevertheless happy to meet with the Petrol Retailers Association and the Scottish Motor Trade Association to discuss the issues in greater detail.

Further Education

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to ensure that colleges of further education are subject to the same ombudsman scrutiny as other public sector organisations.

Ms Wendy Alexander: With regard to complaints by students, all colleges are required to have in place published procedures through which complaints may be pursued. Once a college’s own complaints procedure has been exhausted, it is open to a complainant who remains dissatisfied to refer the matter to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

  We have no plans at present to introduce an ombudsman for colleges of further education.

General Practitioners

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to inform general practitioners of the options available under the National Health Service (Personal Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/72).

Susan Deacon: A variety of initiatives have been undertaken by the Scottish Executive to inform primary care teams about Personal Medical Services: a leaflet explaining PMS has been distributed; a series of roadshows has taken place; information is available on the SHOW website; a PMS network is held quarterly, and presentations are provided on request—around 40 have been given over the last four months.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision there is for the assessment and treatment of Meares-Irlen syndrome in Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

Susan Deacon: This is a matter for local health boards and NHS Trusts.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all patients with early rheumatoid arthritis are referred for a specialist rheumatology opinion and treatment within 12 weeks of the onset of symptoms.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available centrally in the form requested. Patients do not necessarily present to their GP as soon as symptoms appear.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how public awareness of rheumatoid arthritis will be increased in order that symptoms can be recognised at an early stage and the progression of the disease delayed.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), which is funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department, produced a clinical guideline on the Management of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis in December 2000, which includes advice on diagnosis. SIGN guidelines are distributed to all GPs and hospitals.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to determine the expected health gains arising from each approved personal medical services scheme and how patients will be informed of the targets for such gains.

Susan Deacon: Every Personal Medical Services (PMS) scheme will vary according to the local needs of the patient population and the services that are developed to meet those needs. Monitoring arrangements are determined locally. If the PMS scheme is a pilot, it will be reviewed by Scottish ministers towards the end of its pilot period. Guidance has been issued to Primary Care Trusts and Island Health Boards stating that patients should be involved in the development of PMS proposals.

Health Statistics

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to collect centrally details of the number of operations which are cancelled for non-medical reasons in the NHSiS.

Susan Deacon: There are no plans to collect this information centrally.

Health Statistics

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to health boards and NHS Trusts on the collection of data on hospital and clinical activity and, in particular, whether any such guidelines cover the collection of data on cancelled appointments and operations.

Susan Deacon: Guidance is issued to health boards and NHS Trusts on the collection of data for central returns. Trusts and boards are at liberty to collect additional information locally. This guidance is provided by the Information & Statistics Division (ISD) of the Common Services Agency (CSA).

  The guidelines cover the collection of data on out-patient appointments cancelled as a result of the patient’s failure to attend without notice. No central guidance is given for the recording of out-patient cancellations made by the Trust, or by the patient with advance notice.

  Guidance is also issued for the recording of cancelled in-patient and day case admissions, where the cancellation is made by the Trust prior to admission. This information does not identify whether the procedure, for which the patient was due to be admitted, was an operation.

Hospitals

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of central government funding are available for any proposed new hospital in Angus.

Susan Deacon: The Health Department will assess any Business Case received from NHS Tayside for the provision of a new local hospital in Angus.

  All available funding routes should be fully explored at the capital planning stage.

  But—as the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care has said already to the Parliament on 1 February 2001—if public funds are needed for a capital development in Angus, that money will be found.

Hospitals

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of hospital-acquired infection have been recorded in each year since 1997 at (a) Ninewells Hospital, (b) Perth Royal Infirmary and (c) Stracathro Hospital.

Susan Deacon: This information is not available centrally.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any information to suggest that the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot will be delayed beyond November 2001.

Ms Margaret Curran: Glasgow City Council has responsibility for the timing of the ballot.

Housing

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10392 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 30 October 2000, whether it will publish the criteria to be used for the designation of pressured areas in relation to its plans to exempt some areas from right to buy under its Housing (Scotland) Bill.

Jackie Baillie: The criteria are set out in section 39 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. This will be supplemented by further guidance in due course.

Information Technology

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £15 million funding package to expand the use of information and communication technology each further and higher education institution will receive.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The allocation to further and higher education institutions of the £15 million being made available over the next three years is a matter for the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils.

  The specific allocations to higher education institutions for the academic year 2001-02 were announced by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council on 6 April 2001 and details are available on their website.

  The Scottish Further Education Funding Council intends to announce the specific allocations to further education institutions for the forthcoming academic year at the end of April.

Learning Disabilities

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the IT project for people with learning disabilities implemented by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council at its Westfield Resource Centre can be implemented by Scottish local authorities.

Malcolm Chisholm: The West Vale Resource Centre for people with learning disabilities, run by Knowsley Council Social Services, has developed an IT project for around 60 service users who attend the centre. The project has demonstrated significant benefits for people with learning disabilities, including increased self-esteem, improved communication and IT skills and improved employment opportunities. IT training takes place at the resource centre.

  The review of services for people with learning disabilities, The same as you?, recommends that local authorities and health boards should develop more modern, flexible and responsive day care services which support people in the community through lifelong learning and employment.

  Many people with learning disabilities already take part in educational activities within day centres and in further education. There are examples already in Scotland of IT skills projects for people with learning disabilities, based in further education colleges.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that health board and local authority spending on mental health services reflects local needs.

Malcolm Chisholm: The impact of local spending decisions are reviewed from the individual to the strategic perspectives through the work of the visiting Mental Health and Well Being Support Group, the Scottish Health Advisory Service and others in the reviewer network field. This process combined with the on-going performance management function of the Scottish Executive provides a broad-based review of local spend decisions and the difference they make to users of services.

  This approach recognises that money alone is not the solution and, as stated in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, resources must be put to best use through efficient working and improved work practices so that sustained and real improvements can be made in the care and support delivered.

Midwifery

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many midwives who qualified in 2000 have found employment in the profession.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.

Multiple Sclerosis

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each health board area have been clinically assessed as requiring beta interferon but have not been so prescribed.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally.

NHS Funding

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is putting in place to ensure effective financial monitoring by its Health Department and improve the accountability of NHS bodies to the department following the Auditor General’s audit review of National Health Service bodies in Tayside.

Susan Deacon: As recognised in the Audit Scotland report, the Health Department has already made significant changes and improvements in many of the areas identified in the report.

  Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change sets out the Executive’s plans to improve the governance, performance management and accountability of NHSScotland. Further plans for the implementation of these changes are currently being developed.

NHS Funding

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the financial allocation for the personal medical services pilot and permanent schemes, broken down by (a) health board and (b) local health care co-operative.

Susan Deacon: A recurring investment programme of £4.5/6/8 million over the next three years has been agreed for the development of Personal Medical Services (PMS) in Scotland. The allocations were made to health boards, not to local health care co-operatives. The table shows the breakdown of personal medical services allocations for Year 1 (2001-02).

  


Health Board 
  

GMS Arbuthnott Allocation (%) 
  

Indicative Allocation (£) 
  



Argyll & Clyde 
  

8.51 
  

370,283 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

7.52 
  

326,970 
  



Borders 
  

2.21 
  

95,948 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

3.24 
  

141,017 
  



Fife 
  

6.48 
  

281,736 
  



Forth Valley 
  

5.31 
  

231,151 
  



Grampian 
  

9.68 
  

420,895 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

19.02 
  

827,336 
  



Highland 
  

5.24 
  

228,078 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

10.68 
  

464,747 
  



Lothian 
  

14.12 
  

614,384 
  



Orkney 
  

0.00 
  

50,000 
  



Shetland 
  

0.00 
  

50,000 
  



Tayside 
  

7.99 
  

347,455 
  



Western Isles 
  

0.00 
  

50,000 
  



Scotland 
  

100.00 
  

4.500.00

NHS Waiting Times

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why overall waiting times for in-patient and out-patient treatment are longer now than in 1999, as highlighted in figures published by the Information and Statistics Division on 28 February 2001.

Susan Deacon: Waiting in the NHS occur for a number of reasons. Figures referred to show only small shifts against a background of steadily increasing activity.

  Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, sets out a programme of investment and reform, including a range of measures which aim to reduce waiting throughout the patients journey of care.

Nursing

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many whole-time equivalent school nurses there were in each of the last five years.

Susan Deacon: The number of whole-time equivalent qualified school nurses recorded centrally was as follows:

  


Year 
  

WTE 
  



1996 
  

288.1 
  



1997 
  

290.0 
  



1998 
  

286.5 
  



1999 
  

280.2 
  



2000p


278.3 
  



  P Provisional.

Police

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many extra police officers have been recruited to Scottish police forces since May 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: There are 365 more police officers now than in May 1999. In total, there are now 15,149 officers in Scottish forces. At 99 above the previous record, that is the highest number there has ever been.

Prison Service

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12876 by Mr Jim Wallace on 9 February 2001, whether the number of Catholic prisoners is proportionate to the number of Catholics in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  There are approximately 800,000 Roman Catholics (17%) residing in Scotland.

  There are 1,621 Roman Catholics (28%) currently held in Scottish prisons.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14135 by Mr Jim Wallace on 27 March 2001, what policies the Scottish Prison Service has developed to reduce the potential for HIV transmission in prisons and when these policies were or will be implemented.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  In 1993, the use of sterilising tablets was introduced into Scottish prisons to reduce the potential for the transmission of blood borne viral infections. Earlier this year, the Scottish Prison Service built on its policy by making methadone prescribing more widely available within Scottish prisons.

Recycling

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take in response to the recommendation in the Accounts Commission’s Overview of the 1999-2000 Local Authority Audits that it should consider how it can assist local authorities to meet recycling targets.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive is already taking actions to help local authorities improve their waste management. The National Waste Strategy: Scotland , which we adopted in 1999, outlines the ways in which we intend to change the way waste is dealt with in Scotland. Eleven Waste Strategy Area Groups have been set up to establish the best practicable environmental option for dealing with waste in each area. These groups are preparing Area Waste Plans, which are planned to be ready by the end of this year.

  The Executive is committed to a more sustainable future for waste management in Scotland and, as Sarah Boyack explained in answer to question S1W-10588, has made available considerable resources for the implementation of Area Waste Plans by local authorities. This includes the Strategic Waste Fund which has £50.4 million over the three years 2001-02 to 2003-04. The Strategic Waste Fund also provided a £3 million grant to local authorities last year to "kick-start" recycling and composting plans.

  Sarah Boyack also announced in question S1W-10588 that we are contributing £2.1 million to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) over three years. WRAP will have a business focus and will concentrate initially on market facilitation, promoting investment in recycling, research and information management and the provision of guidance, advice and technical support. In addition, the Executive will continue to fund the Recycled Markets Development (ReMaDe) Scotland programme which takes a hands-on, local approach to identifying and developing markets for recycled materials.

  The Accounts Commission Overview identified low market prices as one reason why some local authorities had withdrawn separate collections of recyclable materials such as paper. By tackling the barriers to recycling through WRAP and ReMaDe we aim to lay a sound foundation upon which we can improve Scotland’s poor recycling record.

Rural Affairs

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish a body with equivalent responsibilities to the Countryside Agency in England.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans at present to establish such a body.

Scottish Agricultural College

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the Scottish Agricultural College.

Rhona Brankin: My department has regular discussions with the Scottish Agricultural College over its programmes of research, education and veterinary and advisory services supported by grant-in-aid which are therefore the subject of frequent review.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation exercises on (a) local government and (b) housing have been initiated since 1 July 1999.

Jackie Baillie: Effective consultation is fundamental to good government. The Scottish Executive is committed to providing appropriate opportunities for all those who wish to express their opinions on a proposed area of policy change to do so in ways which will inform and enhance the policy-making process.

  The tables detail the consultation exercises undertaken by the Executive on local government and housing since 1 July 1999. In addition to consultation exercises on discrete policy issues, on-going consultation takes place with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on issues relevant to local government, in particular local government finance matters.

  (a) Local Government

  


Date 
  

Consultation Paper 
  



April 1999 
  

Best Value in Local Government: Interim Conclusions 
  of Best Value Task Force 




September 1999 
  

Report of the Commission on Local Government and the 
  Scottish Parliament: the Scottish Executive’s response 




October 1999 
  

Transitional Arrangements to phase in the effects of 
  the 2000 revaluation of non–domestic property in Scotland




November 1999 
  

Standards in Public Life – Consultation on the Ethical 
  Standards in Public Life (Scotland) Bill 




December 1999 
  

Best Value in Local Government: Final Report of Best 
  Value Task Force




June 2000 
  

Best Value in Local Government - Next Steps 




October 2000 
  

Getting it Right - Performance Information 




November 2000 
  

A Power of Community Initiative, Community Planning, 
  Political Restrictions on Council Employees




January 2001 
  

Standards in Public Life: Consultation on the Codes 
  of Conduct for Members of Public Bodies and Councillors 
  




February 2001 
  

Rate relief for small businesses




March 2001 
  

Consultation on the Draft Local Government (Timing of 
  Elections) (Scotland) Bill 




  (b) Housing

  


Date 
  

Consultation Paper 
  



November 1999 
  

Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Order




December 19999 
  

Single Secure Tenancy and the Right to Buy




December 1999 
  

Anti-Social Behaviour




February 2000 
  

Supporting People – Quality and Monitoring 




June 2000 
  

Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Guidance




June 2000 
  

Supporting People – Towards 2003




June 2000 
  

Supporting People – Managing the Changeover 




July 2000 
  

Better Homes for Scotland’s Communities: The Executive’s 
  proposals for the Housing Bill




October 2000 
  

Supporting People Decision Making Processes and Working 
  Arrangements: Implementation 2000-2003




December 2000 
  

Supporting People – Mapping Supply




December 2000 
  

Proposals to phase out Section 54 (Tax) Grant paid to 
  Housing Associations in Scotland




December 2000 
  

Housing Standards in Scotland: the Index of Housing 
  Quality




January 2001 
  

Advisory Group on the Implementation of the Central 
  Heating Programme – November 2000




February 2001 
  

UK Fuel Poverty Strategy

Scottish Executive Consultation

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations and individuals have been sent copies of its Consultation on the draft Local Government (Timing of Elections) (Scotland) (Bill) .

Peter Peacock: Copies of the consultation documents were sent to:

  Leaders of Scottish Local Authorities

  Chief Executives of Scottish Local Authorities

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  SOLACE

  SOLAR

  MSPs

  Local Government Committee

  Scottish Parliament Information Centre

  Scottish Labour Party

  Scottish Liberal Democrats

  Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

  Scottish National Party

  Scottish Green Party

  Accounts Commission

  Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland

  Scottish Local Government Information Unit

  Faculty of Advocates

  Signet Library

  Other Government Departments

  The distribution was completed by e-mail and the documents have also been placed on the Scottish Executive website.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been set aside to cover the costs of its consultation on the draft Local Government (Timing of Elections) (Scotland) Bill, broken down by staff, publicity, printing and any other categories of expenditure.

Peter Peacock: This type of consultation is part of the normal workload of Scottish Executive staff as the Government is committed to, wherever practicable, pre-legislative consultation on draft bills. There were no publicity or printing costs as the consultation documents were issued by e-mail and also placed on the Scottish Executive website.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11507 by Angus MacKay on 23 November 2000, which of the organisations and individuals who responded to its consultation in response to the recommendations contained in the report of the McIntosh Commission were in favour of combined local authority and Scottish parliamentary elections.

Peter Peacock: A copy of the detailed responses to this consultation is held centrally for public inspection at the Scottish Executive library. In general terms of those who responded to this question, 29, including COSLA, were in favour of combined elections whilst 22 were in favour of mid-term elections. Of the local authorities who responded, 16 were in favour of combined elections and 11 were in favour of mid-term elections.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs were of the publication, including the design, photocopying, printing, internet connection of text, distribution and cost of launch, of Costs, Sentencing Profiles and the Scottish Criminal Justice System 1999 .

Mr Jim Wallace: The total cost of this publication was £4,089.19 excluding Value Added Tax.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the full cost was of publishing, launching and distributing its Review of Funding for Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in the Voluntary Sector document.

Jackie Baillie: The consultant’s final report on the Review of Funding for Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in the Voluntary Sector was published by the Executive on 26 March for consultation until 31 July. 5,000 copies of the report have been printed. Printing costs were £13,470 and £7,500 has been set aside for distribution costs.

Scottish Executive Staff

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what figures it has on the level of stress-related absence among its civil servants and what measures it has in place or is planning in relation to such absence.

Angus MacKay: Provisional figures indicate that last year the total sick absence rate in the whole Executive amounted to an average of 8.51 days per staff member. Stress-related illness, however caused, accounted for 6.76% of the total days lost because of these absences. Training on stress management is available and staff who are experiencing difficulties can obtain support from the Counselling and Welfare Service. There are plans to introduce new policies and procedures aimed at improving the management of all types of sick absences. The possible introduction of further support measures is being discussed with the trade unions.

Taxation

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances it would seek to use the income tax varying power to (a) raise or (b) lower the basic rate of income tax.

Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive has undertaken not to use its tax varying power to increase income tax during the current Parliament. Our draft budget for 2002-03 is based on the current rate of basic tax.

Travellers

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways it informs itself of the requirements of gypsies and travellers.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policies on social inclusion include provision for gypsies and travellers.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish an inclusive forum for consideration of issues relating to travelling people which would invite participation from gypsies and travellers.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that gypsies and travellers are included in all future discussions, and in the drafting of legislation, relevant to their situation.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any current legislation contributes to any discrimination experienced by gypsies and travellers and, if so, what plans it has to amend any such legislation.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will communicate with and seek the advice of bodies such as the Scottish Gypsy/Traveller Association in relation to any future policy decisions regarding travelling people.

Jackie Baillie: The Executive aims in all its work to ensure that the particular needs, circumstances and choices of all Scotland’s communities including travelling people are taken into account. To further that aim, work is in hand, under the Executive’s Equality Strategy, published in November 2000, to develop a communication strategy and to improve consultative mechanisms with specific communities of interest such as travelling people. The Scottish Executive/Scottish Homes commissioned a specific survey of travellers in 1999 and local authorities have the power to undertake their own surveys, for example in connection with Best Value reviews. The Executive’s Memorandum to the Equal Opportunities Committee’s Inquiry into Travelling People describes policies being pursued across the Executive which deal with issues of key concern for travelling people.

  In these circumstances, the Executive has no plans to establish a specific forum for the consideration of issues relating to travelling people. This is in line with the views of the former Advisory Committee on Scotland’s Travelling People which, during its final term of office, examined options for the future. Following consultation, the committee concluded that a successor organisation with executive powers would be counter-productive, potentially divisive and could in fact inhibit the objective of travellers becoming fully accepted as part of the Scottish community.

  There are no plans to review all existing legislation to assess its impact on any particular group. However, all Executive Bills must be accompanied by a statement of their potential impact on equal opportunities. In addition, the process of mainstreaming will move us towards integrating equality considerations into legislation, policy development, service design and delivery.

University Research

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the proposals contained in the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council’s consultation paper on the future recurrent funding of research in universities, Review of Research Policy and Funding , will have on the research base.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the proposals contained in the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council’s consultation paper on the future recurrent funding of research in universities, Review of Research Policy and Funding , will have on the regeneration of the economy.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether and, if so, to what extent, the proposals contained in the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council’s consultation paper on the future recurrent funding of research in universities, Review of Research Policy and Funding , favour the more traditional subjects such as law at older universities.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the proposals contained in the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council’s consultation paper on the future recurrent funding of research in universities, Review of Research Policy and Funding , the funding levels of more traditional subjects such as law will be maintained at the expense of new, developing and emerging subjects.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has made or plans to make to the proposal in the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council’s consultation paper on the future recurrent funding of research in universities, Review of Research Policy and Funding , that those areas of research that receive a quality rating in the Research Assessment Exercise of three or less will not be funded.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what way the proposals contained in the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council’s consultation paper on future recurrent funding of research in universities, Review of Research Policy and Funding , promote an inclusive approach to public policy.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The   Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) is now considering the responses to its consultation process, and it would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment at this stage. I have asked SHEFC to discuss its proposals with the Executive at the conclusion of the review, and to provide appropriate policy advice.

University Research

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultation on the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council’s paper on the future recurrent funding of research in universities, Review of Research Policy and Funding , has been held at a time which maximises institutions’ ability to respond and whether the dissemination of the outcomes of this consultation is planned for a time which suits institutions and academic staff.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The council’s intention to carry out a fundamental review of its policies and methods of funding research was announced in March 1999. The early announcement was intended to give higher education institutions and other interested parties an opportunity to plan ahead for the review. The overall timetable for the review was published in the initial consultation document in February 2000 which included details of the timing of the second stage consultation.

  The timing of the review was designed to ensure that the council was able to undertake a fundamental review of its policies and methods of funding research and to consult a wide range of stakeholders including, but not limited to, higher education institutions. The timing of the second stage consultation was also designed to ensure that proposals for new funding methods could be published and consulted upon well in advance of their introduction.

Waste Management

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what policies are in place to reduce growth in domestic waste.

Rhona Brankin: The National Waste Strategy: Scotland has waste minimisation as one of its key objectives. The strategy includes a target to reduce municipal waste arisings by 1% per annum.

  The Waste Minimisation Act 1998 gives local authorities powers to make arrangements to minimise the generation of waste in their areas. The Area Waste Plans currently being prepared across Scotland will include proposals for the implementation of waste minimisation plans.

  The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 1998 require manufacturers of packaging to keep its weight and volume to a minimum and to allow reuse and recycling to minimise its impact on the environment.

Waste Management

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage the use of reusable nappies in order to reduce the volume of disposable nappies sent to landfill sites in household waste.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive encourages waste minimisation which forms a key objective of the National Waste Strategy: Scotland . The Waste Minimisation Act (1998) gives local authorities the powers to address the minimisation of waste in their area. This provides them with the opportunity to play a more active role in promoting and financing local waste minimisation initiatives such as reusable nappy schemes.

Waste Management

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated time period is for the decomposition of disposable nappies on landfill sites.

Rhona Brankin: The information requested is not held centrally.

  There are a number of websites with information on the environmental impact of disposable nappies:

  www.wen.org.uk/nappies.htm

  www.realnappy.com

  www.nappies-uk.co.uk/environmental.htm

Waste Management

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support Real Nappy Week 2001 on 23 to 29 April and what its position is in relation to the call for the NHS to adopt a real nappy policy in order to reduce the volume of waste being landfilled or incinerated.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive supports waste minimisation initiatives such as Real Nappy Week as waste minimisation is one of the key objectives of the National Waste Strategy: Scotland .

  As with all waste producers, the National Health Service would be encouraged to look at ways in which they can minimise waste as this brings not only environmental benefits but cost savings too.

Water Charges

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations have been received in support of the policy of removing water rates reliefs for the voluntary sector, and how many against.

Ross Finnie: Since the beginning of this year, no representations have been received by the Executive in support of the phasing out of reliefs from water charges for the voluntary sector. In the same period, approximately 47 representations have been received against the decision.

Water Charges

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of completed questionnaires returned to the water authorities in connection with the proposed withdrawal of relief for water and sewerage charges for the voluntary sector indicated support for the complete withdrawal of relief.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14496 on 9 April 2001.